Bicycle



(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 1.

' H. W. HBNNEBERG.

BICYCLE.

Patented Aug. 3,1897.

m: nofws Perzns. mamma. wgs'wucvou. n. c.

2. 7. mw 9 8 8 Kw 1 Q 3, t .5 m u 2 A d e nu G R m E .B D'.v ER Nm N Em HB W H 0 rnv 5.. uw M 8 0 5 M o. Nm N Tn: nofws mas mamma-uwe.. wAsNrNcmN -UNI-TED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

HENRY XV. IIENNEBERG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent N0. 587,550, dated August 3, 1897.

Application iled April '7. 1896. Serial No. 586,524. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: y

Beit known that I, HENRY W. HENNEBEEG, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bicycles; and I do herebyA declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Myinvention relates to a novel construction in a bicycle,and more particularly to the frame thereof, the object being to provide a cheap and durable device of this character; and it consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanyingdrawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bicycle constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the frame thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail top plan View of the clip by which the seat-support is secured to the frame. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View of the clips I employ to strengthen the frame at various points ad jacent the joints between the same and other parts of the bicycle. Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation of the guides formed in the rear end of the frame, in which the shaft of the rear wheel is adjustably secured. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. 1. Fig. S is a detail front elevation of part of the fork. Fig. 9 is a detail side elevation of the lower end of the fork. Fig. 10 is a detail sectional View taken on the line 10 10 of Fig. 8. Fig. l1 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 11 11 of Fig. 8.

Referring now to said drawings, A indicates the frame of a bicycle constructed in accordance with my invention, which consists, preferably, of a single piece of heavy steel wire bent according -to the following description to receive various other parts and provide means for suitably securingthe same: Beginning at the point 1, where said frame is secured to the lower end of the sleeve 2, which forms a pivot for the fork 3, said wire is bent to fit around the collar 4 in the groove 5 thereof. This bend is equal to about one-third of the circumference of said collar beginning from the foremost point of the same, and at the point 6 said wire is bent outwardly and extends straight downwardly, as indicated at 7, to the point 8, at which the bearing for the crank-shaft is to be secured, where it is bent upwardly to form a loop 9, in which the bearof this bend I form the equivalent of thev slot usually made in bicycle-frames, in which the shaft of the rear wheel is adj ustably secured. From the point 14 said wire is bent upwardly to the point 15, adjacent the point at which the seat-post 16 is usually connected and at which it is bent so as to continue at a very slight'upward incline to the point 17, Where it is-bent to form a loop 18 to tthe groove in a collar 19 on the upper end of said sleeve 2 in a similar manner as said groovein said collar 4. From this loop 1S said wire continues back again, being subjected to the same operations as above described, though of course reversed, to form the other side of the frame, the two ends coming together at 1 and forming a loop 20 of the same shape as said loop 18 at that point. After said frame A has thus been formed the sleeve 2 is inserted in said loops 1S and 2O and said collars 4 and 19 brazed therein, thus forming a practically indestructible joint between the same. upward and said loop 2O downward, so that they are parallel with each other and at right angles to the angle of inclination of saidfork 8. The bearing 10 of said crank-shaft is secured in said loops 9 in the following :manner: A hollow T-coupling 21, having an inner diameter equal to the inner diameter of said loops 9, is inserted between said loops, so that together they form a sleeve to receive said bearing 10, which is inserted therein and securely fastened in any suitable manner.

Said loop 19 is bent slightly' IOO The ends of saidA T-coupling 21 form collars against which said loops 9 abut, thus determining the width of said frame at this point,

respectively, to prevent the same from spreading. The shaft 27 of the rear wheel is secured to said frame A in the followingr manner: -Said shaft is screw-threaded at its ends in the usual manner, and the collars 28 and 29, forming the cones of the ball-bearings for said wheel, are placed thereon in the desired position obviously after it has been inserted The ends of said shaft 2.7 Aarey then inserted in the guide-slots 30 of said `frame, and a clip 31, bent at its ends to conl form to the vshape of said wire, is vpassed over each of said projecting ends of said shaftand clamped thereon by nuts 32, which clamp 'the portions 11 and 1.3 vbetween the 4said collars In this manner I make the VAcheapest possible connection between said `parts and at the same `time -afford means for adjusting the shaft 27'to regl 'bearing yforihe crank-shaft, and means for holding said loops against lateral movement in the hub.

2S and 29 and said clips 31.

ulate lthe tautness of the sprocket-chain.

It will be noted that by bending the -wire of the frame A so as to form the upwardlyextending loops 9 I provide greater strength Vfor said frame, las when .pressure is brough't to bear upon said loopsthey wllcontractand j clamp the sleeve 10 more `tightly between them and leave no possibility for said frame to give way, as would be the casefif vsaid loops extended downwardly.

The fork3 is also formed of two pieces of the shaft 36 of said fork. .Said wires entend downwardly in alinement with said shaft 36 and are curved slightly forward at their lower ends "to ,conform to the usual .shape of the forks of bicycles. At the lower end of .said fork said wires are bent to form loops 37, in which the shaft 38 of the front wheel is adapted to be secured in the same manner as shaft 27 is secured inthe guide-slot 30. As the inner diameter-of said loop 37 is, however, greater than the space between the wires immediately above the same, I find it unnecessary to insert a washeror clip between the same and the nuts.

A bicycle constructed in accordance with the above is asstrongasany'now made from tubing and is exceedingly cheap to manufacture. in case of accident a bend in the frame can easily be repaired by any blacksmith with -small eX-pense and small loss of time.

I do not of course wish to be limited to the .exact construction in every detail as herein shown and described, as I contemplate varying the same as may be required to suit various conditions and circu-mstances. vice could obviously also be applied to a velocipede or tricycle with equal advantage.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a velocipede, a frame composed vof wire bent to form loops at its forward ends to receive the pivot of the fo'rk, and spiral loops at its .lower middle portion to receive thebear-V ing for `the crank-shaft.

2. In a velocipede, a frame composed lof wire bent to form upwardly-'extending spiral loopsat its `lower middle portion to receive the :bearing for the crank-shaft.

3. In a velocipede, a frame composed of wire bent to form upwardly-extending spiral loopsat its lower middle portionto .receiveethe consisting of .a T-.conpling mounted between the same against theends of Awhich said-loops abut, and a clip adjacent said T- coupling adapted to hold said loops in contact withsaid T-coupling.

4. In a velocipede, a frame single .piece of wire bent .to form guide-slots at its rear end in which :the shaft of the yrear wheel is adapted to be adjustably secured, bent at its flower middle portion vto form'loops in which ythe bearing for the crank-shaft :is adapted to besecured, and means for holding said loops against lateral movement consisting -of ,a sleeve mounted between the same against-the ends of which said loops abut, `and a clip for holding vsaid loops inJcont-act 4with said ends of said sleeve mounted adjacent'the same.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of .two witnesses.

HENRY W. HENNEBERG.

Vitnesses:

RUDOLPH WM. Lo'rz, FRANK H. GRAHAM.

Besides this it has the advantage that j My decomposed of a 

